NHS bosses urge holidaymakers to "take care" ahead of Skegness surge
The population of the town swells to ten times its size every summer
An NHS boss has urged summer visitors to look after themselves as thousands prepare to make their way to Lincolnshire’s East Coast.
Each year the population of Skegness swells from 20,000 to around 250,000 as tourists enjoy the sand, sea and hopefully sun.
The NHS carefully prepares for the influx of visitors each year who flock to the top holiday destination.
Rebecca Neno is the Deputy Director for System Delivery at Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, which ensures the county is ready for the busy summer season.
“We are quite unique in the area with our summer surge of holidaymakers – most other places get a dip,” she said.
“With families with young children during the summer holidays, you tend to see more minor illnesses, slips, trips and falls, which can be easily dealt with.
“Older people nowadays are typically living with more than one condition such as breathing problems, diabetes or frailty, which does put extra demand on community nurses and more urgent services.
“Our Urgent Treatment Centres in Skegness or Louth and Boston Pilgrim Hospital are quite often busier in the summer than winter months.
“If anything, the number of visitors each summer is growing – the staycation boom after Covid hasn’t dropped off in Lincolnshire.
“It’s something we anticipate and plan for each year.”
She says the NHS is well-prepared for the surge, and staff are encouraged to take their leave as normal.
“We put a plan in place every year to make sure we’re ready, and I have no concern about the negative impact of tourism.”
Her biggest advice to holidaymakers is not to forget their medication, come with a First Aid kit and “behave as you would at home!”
“If you do need medical help, talk before you walk – ring 111 and we can direct you to the best place. Wherever you end up, we’ll be happy to treat you like any full-time resident.”
East Lindsey enjoyed a record-breaking tourism year in 2024, with the seaside resorts and Lincolnshire Wolds bringing £857m into the economy.
A total of 1.68million summer visitors flocked to the coast, spending millions of pounds in shops, restaurants, cafés and on accommodation.